Again I am inspired to write on a theme from a singer/storyteller. Harry Chapin. Know him? He is most remembered by his song “Cats in the Cradle” — the story of a father too busy to be with his son when the child was young and later was remorseful when his son did not have time for him when he became an adult.

“Dreams go by” is Chapin’s real-life story of himself as he comments on the various stages that he and his wife have gone through while watching their dreams/hopes go away. The dream for the future started with young adults dating, then married, had children, grandchildren visiting. Some verses include:

“When you speak your dreams it takes my breath away … but I guess our dreams must wait awhile until we finish school. And so, you and I watch our years go by. We watch our sweet dreams fly far away. But maybe someday, I don’t know when, we will dream again and we’ll be happy then until our time drifts away. … But I guess we’ll have our children first … and you and I we watch our years go by … and so you and I we watch our years go by… . Listen the seasons passing, listen to the wind blow. … Where do broken dreams go?”

Respected Reader, can you identify with this in a way? What dreams/hopes did you have along the way that you did not act on because you didn’t make the choice or were prohibited from doing so? Do you have regrets?

The future, do you have dreams that might well be addressed, planned for, and executed? What might some of those areas include, i.e. relationships, career, trips, hobbies, etc. …? (“Bucket list”)

You have only one shot at life. Chase your dreams. You don’t want to say with Harry Chapin that you let your “dreams go by”!

P. S. As this article was marinating in my brain, Sherry and I stopped for lunch in Colquitt, Ga., on our way to Sandestin. Guess what the restaurant had covering a side wall? A “dream board,” where customers could write their dreams. Serendipitous. It was filled with a great variety of dreams for the future. What might you write on that dream wall?

Dr. Stathas can be reached at 706-473-1780. Email: jstathas13@gmail.com. Web site: drstathas.googlepages.com. Blog: drstathas.com.